Congress' First Vote Gives A Hint As To How The Democrats Will Splinter

Actually the first vote was for the new Speaker and, on pain of political death, all Democrats voted for Pelosi and all Republicans voted for Boehner. Even the most reactionary, right-wing Know Nothing Democrats, like Heath Shuler (NC), who had once threatened to vote against Pelosi, and pushy Pelosi-haters like ambitious New York Blue Dog Kirsten Gillibrand toed the party line on this one. But after that perfunctory organizational vote came a real barn burner, Pelosi's plan to change the rules. Again, it was Democrats for and Republicans against, as expected. And, indeed every single Republican voted no. But not every Democrat did.

Of the 248 Democrats voting-- 7 were away-- 6 voted with the Republicans. Who they are should help give us a preview about where the opposition to the Democratic Party agenda for the coming session will come from. Half the opposition came from right-wing Blue Dog scum and half came from principled representatives of American working families. Progressive members Ed Pastor (D-AZ), Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) wound up joining right-leaning members Brian Baird (WA), Walt Minnick (ID) and Mike Michaud (ME).

Minnick was just elected, as a self-professed conservative, in one of the most reactionary districts in the entire country (PVI: R+18) and he is bound to vote with the Republicans at every opportunity. He's nearly worthless when it comes to the issues that separate Democrats from fascists and is going to be GOP target #1 in 2010 no matter how often he votes with them. Democrats will waste hundreds of thousands of dollars-- if not millions-- defending the seat of a guy likely to vote with the GOP half the time. Michaud is a Blue Dog and he's already trumpeting how he stood up against the Big Bad Democrats: Michaud Chooses Principle over Party Loyalty, Votes Against Democratic Rules Package.

“The first vote of the new Congress asked members to support a package that includes a major provision that does not live up to the fiscal responsibility that the American people demand,” said Michaud.  “All across my district families are being asked to tighten their belts, cut spending, and go without. It’s time that Congress learned to do the same.

“We have seen Medicare’s costs steadily rise,” said Michaud.  “As a result, an increasingly larger share of this program [Medicare] is being funded by general government revenue. Instead of responsibly dealing with this funding problem and ensuring the long-term solvency of Medicare, this issue was swept under the rug.  At the end of the day, as this new Congress gets underway, new spending must grow our economy and put Americans back to work.  It must also be responsible.  Congress must once again return to following a budget, just like every Maine family must.”

Brian Baird is a member of the right-wing New Democrat Coalition (NDC), an outfit that overlaps the Blue Dogs and is also more likely to support corporate priorities than working families. Baird. considered a "moderate," gained national recognition as a collaborator with Bush on escalating the war against Iraq.

Pelosi's going to have to work extra hard to hold the fractious edges of the House Democratic caucus together. It will be interesting to see if John Larson (D-CT) will be as persuasive as Emanuel was in his new role as Chairman of the Caucus.